Some ratepayers can apply to become council-enrolled ratepayers in Surf Coast Shire if they are:
- a property owner, occupier or represent a corporation
- 18 years or older
- not a state-enrolled voter within the Surf Coast Shire
These are known as council-enrolled voters.
The rules for council-enrolled voters have changed ahead of the 2024 Council elections. These rule changes are explained below.
All enrolment forms must be received by council no later than 4pm on Wednesday 7 August 2024.
Owner ratepayers
You can apply to enrol in Surf Coast Shire if you:
- own a property and pay rates in the council area
- are 18 years or older
- are not a state-enrolled voter who lives in the Surf Coast Shire
This includes:
- Australian citizens who own a property in Surf Coast Shire but do not live in the area (for example an investment or a holiday home)
- non-citizens over 18 who own a property and live in Surf Coast Shire.
Up to 2 ratepayers can apply to enrol per property, but each person only gets one vote.
Owner-ratepayer application for enrolment(PDF, 65KB)
Occupier ratepayers
You can apply to enrol in Surf Coast Shire Council if you:
- pay rates for a property that you occupy but do not own
- are 18 or older
- are not a state-enrolled voter
Up to 2 people per property can apply to enrol, but each person only gets one vote.
Occupier ratepayer - Application for enrolment(PDF, 67KB)
Corporations
You can apply to enrol to vote on behalf of a corporation if you:
- are a director or company secretary of a corporation that pays rates (either as an owner or an occupier) in the council area
- have consented to being appointed as the corporation's representative
- are not already a state-enrolled voter or council-enrolled voter for the same council.
Only one person can apply to enrol as the corporation's representative.
Corporation owner or occupier - Appointment of voting representative(PDF, 71KB).
Once you are enrolled, you must vote for the October 2024 elections and onwards. If you don't vote, you may get a fine.
Resigning your enrolment
If you don't want to vote for that property anymore, you can apply to resign your enrolment.
Please email info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au or call (03) 5261 0600.
Expiry of Enrolment
Occupier ratepayers' and corporations' enrolment expires before the next local government general election.
If you want to continue to vote, you must apply to enrol again before the next local government general election deadline (2028).
Owner ratepayers' enrolment does not expire, but they can apply to resign their enrolment.
By-elections before October 2024
If you were a council-enrolled voter in Surf Coast Shire Council at the 2020 local council general elections and your circumstances haven’t changed, you will be automatically enrolled for any by-elections that take place before October 2024. It is not compulsory for you to vote.
If you weren’t a council-enrolled voter in Surf Coast Shire Council at the 2020 local council general elections, or your circumstances have changed, you can apply to enrol at any by-elections that take place before October 2024. It is not compulsory for you to vote.
If you want to vote in the next local council general election in October 2024, you will need to apply to enrol again.
By-elections after October 2024
If you apply to enrol for the local council elections in 2024, you will remain enrolled for any council by-elections up until 2028. It will be compulsory for you to vote.